How do I set up the Blue Ocean Brain app in a Microsoft Teams channel for my organization?

These instructions will allow the Blue Ocean Brain (BOB) application to post messages to the Microsoft Teams channel(s) of your choosing.

Table of Contents

What are the advantages of setting up the Microsoft Teams integration?

How does the Microsoft Teams adapter sync content from Blue Ocean Brain to Teams?

How will the Blue Ocean Brain content display and function within Microsoft Teams?

What needs to be enabled prior to setting up the Microsoft Teams adapter?

What are the steps to set up my Microsoft Teams adapter?

Step 1: Configure the integration in the Microsoft Teams app.

Step 2: Provide the details of your Microsoft Teams integration to your Blue Ocean Brain IT contact.

Step 3: Confirm that the test post was pushed successfully.

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What are the advantages of setting up the Microsoft Teams integration?

Your company may already have access to the Blue Ocean Brain platform. With the addition of a BOB integration with Microsoft Teams, you can enhance your BOB experience to meet your learning goals for your employees:

• Remind people about BOB. With the addition of the Microsoft Teams integration, you can push the lessons to your team members within dedicated channels. The Microsoft Teams integration also serves as a great communications alternative if your employees are unable to receive emails.
• Create interactivity with the lessons. When lessons are posted to the Microsoft Teams channel, your team can comment on the lessons to provide their personal takeaways from the lesson, interesting information that they've learned and will implement, or additional discussion questions to further the conversation around the lesson topic.

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How does the Microsoft Teams adapter sync content from Blue Ocean Brain to Teams?

Blue Ocean Brain posts content to your organization's predetermined Microsoft Teams channel(s) via the Teams application's webhook URL, set up by your company.

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How will the Blue Ocean Brain content display and function within Microsoft Teams?

The Blue Ocean Brain Lesson will be posted in your organization's Microsoft Teams channel(s) in a format similar to an iFrame, with an image containing the Lesson and the Lesson description featured below the post. The Lesson will post at the time of day (in EST) on whichever day(s) of the week is determined by your organization.

When the Learner selects the Lesson, the Learner will be directed to log in via SSO and then will be directed to the first Article of the Lesson. The Learner may then proceed to complete the remainder of the Lesson.

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What needs to be enabled prior to setting up the Microsoft Teams adapter?

Before beginning the setup, two items must be completed:

1. SSO authentication needs to be set up with BOB. Your BOB IT contact will reach out to you to set up the BOB SSO profile. Here is more information regarding the SSO setup process with BOB.
2. Your team needs to determine the following details:
   1. In which channel(s) you'd like Blue Ocean Brain to be located. If you'd like Blue Ocean Brain to post in more than one channel, you will need to set up multiple connectors (one for each team or channel).
   2. The time and time zone desired for the BOB app to post in your channel.
   3. The day(s) of the week desired for the BOB app to post in your channel(s). The BOB app is able to create a post any day of the week, including Saturday and/or Sunday if requested.

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What are the steps to set up my Microsoft Teams adapter?

Step 1: Configure the integration in the Microsoft Teams app.

1. As a Teams Admin, navigate to your main Teams window.

2. Determine which team and channel you'd like BOB to post in. Select the three dots (the More Options icon) on the far right of the selected channel. Select Connectors.

 

3. Search for Incoming Webhook and select the Add or Configure button on the connector matching that name (the button text varies based on if you have any other connectors set up).

 

4. Choose whichever channel name you'd like. We recommend “BlueOceanBrain”. You may also choose to change the image to a themed BOB image (download the BOB image with a transparent background or the BOB image with a white background here). Your Learners will see both the name and image next to posts made by BOB. Select the CREATE button at the bottom of the window.

Step 2: Provide the details of your Microsoft Teams integration to your Blue Ocean Brain IT contact.

The Blue Ocean Brain team will need the following items in order to complete your Teams integration:

• Your webhook URL generated through the creation of the BOB app.
• Time and time zone desired for the BOB app to post in your channel(s).
• The day(s) of the week desired for the BOB app to post in your channel(s). The BOB app is able to create a post any day of the week, including Saturday and/or Sunday if requested.

1. Find the webhook URL. As a Teams Admin, navigate to your main Teams window. Select the team and channel where you've set up your BOB integration. Select the three dots (the “More Options” icon) on the far right of your selected channel. Select “Connectors”.
2. At the bottom of the new window, a “webhook” URL will be provided. Please copy the entire webhook URL and send it, along with the time, time zone, and day(s) of the week when you'd like for BOB to post to your channel, to your Blue Ocean Brain IT contact.

Below is a screenshot of where you'd find the webhook URL.

 

3. Select DONE.

Step 3: Confirm that the test post was pushed successfully.

The Blue Ocean Brain team will notify you when the setup is finalized. We will push in a test post and ask you to confirm that you see it.

Below is an example of what the BOB message will look like in your Teams channel:  

Once you've seen the test post and confirm with the BOB team, the setup is complete.